How to Bring Remote Workers Back to the Office

Companies across the country are calling their remote workers back to the office in an effort to improve collaboration in fields like technology and digital marketing. But even with the best intentions, the transition from living room to office can be difficult for veteran remote workers. To help make the move smoother, follow these tips:

Start with the culture

A company whose workers are or were primarily remote will need intentional ways to connect and collaborate with employees who have long been on campus. Leadership should be proactive and intentional about fostering a culture that brings these two groups together in a safe, positive space to work.

Empowered equals engaged:Empowered workers are more likely to innovate. According to turnstone’s latest research on innovations, 72% of intrapreneurs say that empowerment directly affects their success. Cultivate a culture of trust and give employees the ability to choose where to work by creating different places to focus within the company. Allowing workers to explore new places to work within the company helps maintain this trust as well as mimics the freedom of being a remote worker.

Get Social:Make the focal point of your office a social space for sharing and collaborating like a Campfire Big Table. Including this in your office will encourage team bonding, relationship building and a culture of fun, happy workers.

Team-bonding:Organize small activities for your team to get to know each other. At turnstone, we have a picture board with a different theme every month, like “favorite place to visit” or “first car.” People post their pictures on the board to start conversations and celebrate individuality.

For more ideas on how to support collaboration in the office, read our blog post here.

A dash of home

The ambience of a home kitchen or outdoor patio can differ greatly from working at office desks. To recreate that residential feel, bring in elements of home to the workplace.

Add casual lounge settings for a refreshing break. Seating like Campfire Big and Half Lounge or Jenny support the ideal posture for focusing and give the feeling of “getting away.”

Choose materials like wood and soft fabrics to create warm spaces. This will help establish a welcoming office.

Adorn walls and table tops with pictures, plants and more residential decorations.

Onto the work cafe

A cafe in the office can have the same allure as a coffee shop and makes the switch from remote worker to on-campus worker a little easier. A cafe can host casual meetings, independent work or lunch get-togethers in a cafe. A successful work cafe allows employees to recharge, focus and socialize.

While there are benefits to both types of workers, if your company is considering a “no remote” policy, helping them adjust to the change will be the start of a supportive and connected workplace.